CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GLCCI1 RS37973 POLYMORPHISM AMONG CHILDREN WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA AGED 6–16 YEARS AT CAN THO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, 2024–2026

Genetic factors may influence asthma characteristics and treatment response in paediatric patients. This study aimed to describe the distribution of the GLCCI1 rs37973 polymorphism in children with bronchial asthma at Can Tho Children’s Hospital. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 81 children aged 6–16 years diagnosed with bronchial asthma from June 2024 to May 2026. Clinical characteristics and GLCCI1 rs37973 genotypes were analyzed using PCRbased genetic testing. Most participants were aged 6–11 years (82.7%) and male (63.0%), with a mean age of 9.05 ± 2.36 years. Genotype analysis showed that the AG genotype was the most common (51.9%), followed by GG (25.9%) and AA (22.2%). The G allele frequency (51.9%) was slightly higher than the A allele frequency (48.1%). No significant associations were identified between rs37973 genotypes and most demographic or clinical characteristics. However, a statistically significant association was observed between genotype distribution and history of COVID-19 infection (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the AG genotype and G allele were predominant among Vietnamese children with bronchial asthma. These findings provide preliminary data for future studies investigating genetic factors associated with asthma management and corticosteroid responsiveness.